Family Travel
Kid Friendly Restaurants in Pittsburgh
Remember when you were a kid and you couldn’t wait until you were all grown up so you could eat whatever you wanted when you wanted? Well, now that I’m all grown up (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it) I can eat my dessert first or at least I can talk about my desserts first right? On my very first visit to Pittsburgh, heck it was my first visit to Pennsylvania state too, I got to try out several kid friendly restaurants in Pittsburgh and other fun eateries. Oh, what a delight for this foodie but because I like my desserts I’m going to start with them first and work my way down the list.
This is my favourite photo that I took while in Pittsburgh. It was taken from a stairwell from PNC Park the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team’s stadium. Yes I did go to a game, more on that in another article.
Desserts
One of my last kid friendly restaurant in Pittsburgh that I had the pleasure of trying was the Milkshake Factory which yes had amazing milkshakes from what I saw but oh the variety of chocolates. I have a weakness for dark chocolate with caramel or nuts or both and chocolate covered strawberries oh my. Don’t tell my family but I enjoyed a nice variety of chocolates all to myself and no I didn’t bring any home for them because they would have melted anyway, right?
I was with a large group that had adults and kids of all ages so our group made the line-up quite long but as I looked back at the line-up there were suddenly several people who weren’t a part of group there. At past 8pm at night, it was most certainly a popular venue for those seeking out a sweet treat to delight their tastebuds. 
I have to admit I was like a kid in an um well candy store because hello Milkshake Factory. Watching the kiddos press their noses up to the glass trying to decide what they wanted was fun itself. When I say kids I mean of all ages from 2 to 42 and beyond. I personally had such a hard time deciding that I asked one of the Milkshake Factory people to select for me based on what I liked. They did well because I enjoyed every single bit of the delicious high-quality chocolate to the fresh strawberry yum! While the lighting at this eatery may not be conducive to better photos it does not take away from the pure delight of the taste of their wares. 
Breakfast
Kelly O’s Diner
Okay now that we’ve done dessert let’s talk about breakfast. I’m going to break down the kid-friendly restaurants in Pittsburgh by what meal we had so we’ll start with mornings and breakfast. First up Kelly O’s diner in the Strip District. I don’t know why it’s called the Strip District, but don’t worry it’s a family-friendly area from what I saw during the daytime as I was mostly there in daylight hours. Now back to breakfast, first stop as mentioned Kelly O’s diner which has been featured on the Food Network as a one of a kind greasy spoon.
Imagine what you think a classic diner would look like and you might not be far off. It’s small, crowded with tables but those tables were full and they have some unique dishes. This placed was packed on a Friday morning at 8:30am and even though they knew our large group was coming we just fit in. It’s obviously it’s a popular place and with the variety of items on the menu it’s no wonder. 
I’m not a big breakfast eater and when I do eat it, it’s usually later in the morning so it was still too early for me to be making decisions so I went with a classic, the eggs benny. It was good, nothing fancy and not the best one I’ve had but it was good. I can’t say I loved the coffee as it was your classic diner coffee with glass pots on burners. I’m a coffee snob I admit it and some would say not a real coffee drinker as I like my cream and sugar or a good latte or mocha. That said I don’t think people go there for the coffee, they go for the classic feel, decent prices and in my opinion the more interesting dishes like the grilled cinnamon roll with ice cream below. 
One of my table mates, Lisa from Mom on the Side ordered this scrumptious dishes and I can say scrumptious because I got to have a bite. There are other delectable sounding dishes on the menu that you might not see anywhere else so it’s worth stopping by. Oh and there was the freshest orange juice, like squeezed on the spot by some fancy machine but it was good! We were also treated to meeting Ms. Kelly O herself so naturally, I had to have her pose in a photo with me. She makes my 5 foot 3 frame look tall. She was as sweet as her grilled cinnamon roll. Just a lovely lady.
Waffles INCaffeinated
Next up for breakfast (no not the same day silly) it’s Waffles INCaffeinated located on the South Side of Pittsburgh. As you can imagine there were all sorts of waffles to be had. 
Another morning to choice to be made for breakfast, this time I did go for something sweet but it was a hard decision between crepes or waffles but given the name I went for waffles. Well the French Toast Waffles that is, it was tasty a bit sweet for me but that’s to be expected as I’m not keen on overly sweet but my daughter would have LOVED this.
My table mate Lisa again from Mom on the Side (as there were four of us who sat together a lot as we were the four whose children were not with us. and I won’t say we enjoyed it without our kids but I won’t say we didn’t either) ordered the chicken and waffles. She really does select some yummy looking foods and you know us travel writers we’re always taking photos of food (when it’s not scenery or places) to share. 
I also got to enjoy a fancy latte at Waffles INCaffeinated, not bad at all and I say that as someone who doesn’t love some of the coffee from some of those big coffee houses whom I won’t name.
Lunch and Dinner
Up next lunch and dinner! I’m saying both as all of these could be for both meals and because I’m starting to get lazy here ha ha.
Since we’re speaking of lunches and especially dinners I will mention that these are all kid-family restaurants in Pittsburh but there was also some adult beverages for mom or dad to partake of (responsibly of course) if they so wished. Some did, some didn’t but this momma decided to try one adult beverage at two of the restaurants. Why not I wasn’t driving, my family wasn’t with me and I got to hang out with some new friends also sans kids like Nicky from Little Family Adventure and another fabulous Michelle from Simplify Live Love. One of the many reasons I love trips like this one is meeting other travel writers, sharing the experiences with them and hearing about places they’ve travelled to that I haven’t. Make sure you stop by and check out their sites you’ll love them too.
Primanti Bros – Strip District
So the first restaurant I actually visited in Pittsburgh was Primanti Bros also in the Strip District. While I’m showing a photo of the bar above I actually did not partake in any adult beverages here. I just liked the neon light with their name on it. Primanti Bros is known for the sandwiches that have French fries and coleslaw on them. It’s a Pittsburgh thing apparently. Full disclosure I’m not a sandwich person, I like very few sandwiches and it’s just not a meal I’d seek out but I’m always willing to try something new especially when visiting a new city.
I ordered a roast beef with cheese minus the coleslaw as I don’t like coleslaw. I know I’m sounding like a picky eater but I’m really not. The bread was really good, fresh and tasty, as was the roast beef. I know my hubby would love their sandwiches and he would have them with the coleslaw too. I found at first all I could taste was the French fries so I took some of them off. 
Above is another one of their sandwiches but with the coleslaw on it as well. I can’t remember if this was Nicky’s or Michelle’s sandwich lol but it gives you an idea of what one of their sandwiches looks like with all the fixins.
Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh – German Cuisine
I’ve actually been to the Hofbräuhaus in Chicago but I was by myself that time and going to one with others is way more fun. Inside the restaurant, there are long tables with benches or chairs. Each restaurant is modeled after the legendary 400+ year-old Hofbräuhaus in Munich, Germany! In fact, Michelle from Simplify Live Love has been to the one in Munich.
It was fun to share the food family style with my table mates. We got to try a bit of everything, I have to say my favourite was the potato pancakes and the fried pickles.
This kid-friendly restaurant in Pittsburgh was also great for moms and dads as everyone was having a good time and didn’t have to worry if anyone was being too loud as there were exuberant conversations happening all over the restaurant. It’s not a quiet restaurant and as mentioned everything is set up family style but it’s good food, conversation and for those who want it some adult beverages too.
Not my beer but naturally one of the parents had to give it a try, after all Germany is known for it’s beer right? 
Overall a lot of good food is to be had at Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh and there’s even a beer garden…
Last but certainly not least was The Porch Restaurant. This might have been my favourite as I enjoyed the casual but nice atmosphere and it most definitely qualified as a kid-friendly restaurant in Pittsburgh. There were several tables with young kids and the servers just worked their way around them. I like that they believe that the best meals start with the best ingredients – and that means fresh and local. On their rooftop, they nurture an annual garden so that they can use fresh-picked herbs and produce in their kitchen everyday. In addition, their roof is also the home to several bee hives, which help to give them a great supply of honey. They also partner with local producers & distributors like Penn’s Corner Farm Alliance and Wild Purveyors.
All of the food looked delicious. I particularly enjoyed my pizza which they bring out on its own pan with some herbs, chili and parmesan on the side to put on as you please. It was simply delicious. 
The rare-seared tuna niçoise that a few of my table mates ordered also looked simply scrumptious. 
Everyone seemed to enjoy their appetizers and meals and overall it was a delicious experience. I know it probably seems like all I did was eat in Pittsburgh and I did eat quite a bit. So many wonderful kid-friendly restaurants in Pittsburgh to try so little time. I thoroughly enjoyed trying them all. Next time you’re in Pittsburgh give one or all of them a try! 
Make sure to check out travel section for more travel tips and reviews HERE. Stay tuned for our article on all the kid-friendly activities to do in Pittsburgh!
I was invited by Visit Pittsburgh and hosted at the restaurants but this does not guarantee a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lyndsey Rullman says
So much yummy looking food! Those chicken and waffles look amazing! So does the cinnamon roll with ice cream.
Tamra Phelps says
These are the types of restaurants I like. I like family friendly places, not the high priced, stuffy places.
Teresa Kunberger says
Ill have to remember these for if we ever take a trip there! Some look amazing!
Theresa Jenkins says
Waffles INCaffeinated is one of our FAV places to go…we life about half hour north of Pitts….on our next trip with the grandkids I’m looking forward to trying the Milkshake Factory!!!
brandi manuel says
Sooo i now want to move there. That food looks absolutely delicious!!
Maryann D. says
These photos are truly wonderful! I would enjoy any of the food and be happy to visit any of the restaurants.
Sabrina Templin says
I can’t believe these are kid friendly YAAAAAAAY! The food looks delicious! 🙂
Lisa F. says
The French Toast Waffles look insanely good, with the blueberries…Yum! I also like the look of the grilled cinnamon roll. I don’t go out for breakfast very often, but these are the kinds of things I would get.
wen budro says
Oh my goodness……my mouth is seriously watering over your pictures of pure deliciousness. If I ever visit Pittsburgh- I will definitely be eating these goodies.
Antoinette M says
I’ve never visited Pittsburgh. My first stop will be at the Milkshake Factory!
Deanna Marissa says
Beautiful places and delicious food pictures.
aaron reck says
I always love a dessert whether I’m staying home or I’m out and about to get a pep in my step.
Abigail Schuette says
Ok so lets talk about this milkshake factory for a minute oh my god heck yes! Am i right!? That looks so bomb i want it so bad! My dream meal is eggs Benedict for breakfast followed by as much chocolate as possible hey i should open my own restaurant for moms lol and by the way you take beautiful pictures i have never been to Pittsburg but i felt like i was right there with you its a beautiful feeling in my soul of peace thank you mamas great blog
Sue E says
I think I just had a sugar rush – then coma, looking at all of those exceptional candies and chocolate covered strawberries and pretzels at the Milkshake Factory. There are so many delicious food pictures that I am getting hungry! We had German food that looked something like the meal we actually ate in Germany. There is something yummy for everyone! It’s a win – win. This is enough to make me want to take a road trip to Philadelphia! Thank you for sharing! I’ll be dreaming of sugar plums in my head 😋
Laura Rubenstein says
I love the Milkshake Factory! I am so happy there is one by me.
Vickie says
I will pass this on to my family who live outside Pitts in Washington.
Anne Perry says
The chocolate looks amazing. I would love to spend some time here.
athena graeme says
Desserts looks ridiculous! Next time we go to visit grandma in Pittsburgh we have to stop by!
Theresa Jenkins says
We live about 25 miles north of Pitts. and I’ve only heard about half of these places…. with 5 grandkids we are for sure going to try the other half…thanks
Abigail Gibson says
I would love to go to Kelly O’s Diner for a delicious breakfast. I am so hungry after seeing the photos.
Kathy says
Those are a lot of great places. I would love to go to Pittsburgh someday. I’m glad to see there are a lot of kid friendly restaurants too.
Amanda Alvarado says
I just ate but now I’m hungry again! My favorite would have been the Milkshake Factory! Chocolate heaven!
Katherine says
I live about 2 hours from Pittsburgh. We often go there for my medical appointments. This information is good to know because we sometimes take the kids. The food and places look amazing!
Bryan Vice says
Look like some good restaurants for the whole family
Amanda W says
I haven’t had the chance to visit Pittsburgh yet, but this article sure makes a compelling argument to plan a trip! The sampler platter from Hofbräuhaus, looks soooo good!
Nici R says
All of this food looks amazing. Great recommendations. The French toast waffle looks so delicious!!
Nidhi Chauhan says
OMG! Your food pictures are truly droolicious. Thanks for sharing all those good places.
shelly peterson says
Amazing looking food and desserts. Looks like some good eats there.
Leela says
All that chocolate! It reminds me of a place I used to work at when I was a teen.
naomi winkel says
That food looks so yummy. If I lived closer I would want to go eat there all the time. I have not been to Pittsburgh before.
Dandi D says
Yum, these places all sound amazing!
Bonnie Lee says
Those waffles look amazing! Thank you for posting! It is nice to see a couple of places that are kid friendly, both kids and kids at heart, as I would also be a kid in a candy shop with the Milkshake Factory.
Donna L. says
I’ve never visited Pittsburgh but the food you featured looks awesome!
Jessica Walker says
I visit Pittsburgh once every few years and we like love going to new places and trying new things. Definitely have want to check out milkshake factory in our next trip.
Debbie P says
I don’t live near Pittsburgh but I would love to take my family there just to go to these restaurants.
gloria patterson says
This reminds me of Guy Ferro’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives show. I wonder if he has filmed some of these places. The pictures made me so hungry. We are going to find these places one of the times we go to Pittsburgh
kathy pease says
Everything looks so delicious I will have to visit sometime
donna porter says
Pittsburgh sounds and looks like a wonderful place to visit. I have never been there but it is one on our bucket list.
Paula Pennachio says
I’m right by Pittsburgh this is nice to know thank you
desiree says
those look great i never been in pit but it look so good and then the fun you had wa great
Edye says
All these look great! I love places where there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Maryann D. says
I love that terrific photo of Pittsburgh. The goodies in the photos do look so tasty! I would enjoy any of them.
Robin Abrams says
Their food looks so good. We will have to give this a try this summer. Pittsburgh is not to far from us
Vickie says
My aunt lives outside the Burg. Lots of fantastic places to eat, sightsee and antique shops. OUTSIDE key, because traffic is awful. 🙂
stacey says
I would like to try all the different foods and sweets
Paula Ball says
I’ve traveled this country over from 3 corners (never been to San Diego) but have never been to Pennsylvania. Pittsburg is in top 5 cities I would like to visit. Saw a movie filmed there & I was hooked! The architecture, rivers everywhere, museums,etc. this city is most definitely on my bucket list. Oh & not to forget the perogies!
Megan Smith says
The food looks delicious!
Brandon Sparks says
This is really great info. Thanks so much. We visit family in Pittsburgh about 3 times a year and this is really good to know. It helps out more then you know..
Donna L Holder says
all of these look awesome. thank you
Nancy Burgess says
Oh my all those sweets I’d never get to dinner.The waffles look so good.
rochelle haynes says
I am liking the candy looks good and tasty
Lynne B says
My next trip to Michigan, I’m going to make us stop in Pittsburgh just to eat!!
Jessi Housel says
My family is taking a trip to Pittsburgh this summer. Great tips, so many delicious looking chocolate foods on your post.
Dorothy Boucher says
Oh wow! I hope some day I get to travel to Pittsburgh, would love to try a few of those places out and taste
some delicious! food.
@tisonlyme143
Deanna Marissa says
OMG! Your food pics makes me drooling! We have to visit this restaurant.
Karen Jaras says
Someone need to make a blog on this. Traveling with grandchildren as they get older has proven much more difficult than when they were little. Having something like this for every larger city would be such a stress reliever.
Alicia Hewitt says
I wish these restaurants were around me! The food looks delicious! I want those French toast waffles!!
Paula Pennachio says
This is true I live right outside of Pittsburgh
Jessi Housel says
OMG these food pics have me drooling. My family was talking about plans for our next family vacation and P.A. was on the short list, saving this just incase we make the trip from ohio. Thanks for sharing.
rochelle haynes says
Loving the food looks tasty
Linda Manns Linneman says
I have never been to pittsburgh before but it is on my bucket list. It sounds like so much fun. The food looks great. It is really making me hungry this morning. Thank you so much for sharing this
Rosie says
So many kid-friendly options!! Restaurants open up nearby, but I can’t think of any that are kid friendly. It is a good idea!
Maryann D. says
I would be thrilled to visit the Milkshake Factory. Everything looks so fresh and tasty! I wish I had this near me!
gloria patterson says
OMG the pictures are killing me!! I want a bite of everything……………. I had breakfast at Kelly O’s years ago and still remember it. Some of the others I have saw but not been there. Only live about 2 hour from Pittsburgh.
Mia Rose says
It is so much fun to go to new places and explore the various restaurants and local foods. Nice to know of the places that are kid friendly. The milkshake factory looks like a destination for me.
Deborah D says
I live near Pittsburgh and I haven’y heard of most of these restaurants. It is definitely good to know what restaurants are kid friendly.
Dana Rodriguez says
Lot’s of great options! Those French Toast Waffles look really amazing and I know I would want to go to Milkshake Factory!
Amy D says
After seeing the photos from the Milkshake Factory, I totally want some chocolate. I am such a foodie and love all the unique photos of food from different restaurants that I don’t have around here. That pizza an those sandwiches look extra yummy! 🙂
Theresa Miller says
Yum!! We go to Pittsburgh alot to visit family and these are a great variety for us to try. We have been to a few and love Primanti Bros place. Pittsburgh has so many great places to go to eat in and the festivals are great to go to also for some fine eating for all.